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January 31, 2021
Question

Up-Front Fee for Study Abroad

  • January 31, 2021
  • 1 reply
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My daughter had to pay a deposit for her study abroad.  I want to enter it as a college expense, because we withdrew money from her Section 529 to pay it.  Where should I enter that in the Turbotax interview page?  None of the categories seem to fit.

    1 reply

    KathrynG3
    January 31, 2021

    Presuming you paid your daughter's university for her study abroad, it would be considered a qualified education expense, since it was necessary for her to participate in the program.

     

    To enter your details from the Section 529 Plan distribution, enter 1099-Q in the search box and click the Jump to link.

     

    For more details, see:

    Guide to IRS Form 1099-Q: Payments from Qualified Education Programs

     

    2020 IRS Publication 970: Eligible educational institution. An eligible educational institution is one whose primary function is the presentation of formal instruction and that normally maintains a regular faculty and curriculum and normally has a regularly enrolled body of students in attendance at the place where it regularly carries on its educational activities.

     

    CMS7Author
    January 31, 2021

    Thanks.  Your answer made sense and I appreciated the tip on using "jump to".  It looks as though the education costs can't be entered from the 1098-Q spot, though.  I believe I probably should just enter is "Other Books and Course-Related Materials" under Expenses and Scholarships.  Does that make sense?

     

    KrisD15
    January 31, 2021

    Yes, that makes sense. 

    You can enter the tuition, fees, and books relating to the study abroad, but don't include the cost of travel. 

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